Your student has better learning opportunities thanks to grant

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has been awarded $46,000 in grant money through the Teaching with Primary Sources Program, a federal grant program administered by the Library of Congress to develop teaching resources and professional development opportunities that focus on the effective use of digitized primary sources in K-12 classrooms.

“The Library of Congress is an invaluable resource to students and educators across the country,” U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said. “This funding will enable K-12 teachers in Illinois to take full advantage of the resources offered by the Library of Congress to develop new skills and better engage students.”

Three other Illinois education organizations also received grant money for a total of $615,164. The other grants awarded were:

▪  Governors State University (University Park): $202,115

▪  Rockford University (Rockford): $117,049

▪  Barat Education Foundation (Chicago): $250,000

Additionally, Illinois State University will receive $630,000 to continue its role coordinating TPS activity in 17 states under the TPS Midwest Region. This money will allow Illinois State University to make smaller grant awards to expand the TPS Program in the Midwest, including Illinois.

McKendree ready to volunteer

About 450 incoming McKendree University students will participate in a volunteer day called “Into the Streets” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 27.

Students will be assigned to one of about 30 sites in Lebanon, Highland, Germantown, Breese, East St. Louis and St. Louis. Activities will include working with the elderly, people with disabilities, or homeless, as well as providing physical labor for community beautification and restoration projects.

Organizations that benefit include the Lebanon Food Pantry, HIS Kids, Catholic Urban Programs, Christian Activity Center, Gateway Greening, Leu Civic Center in Mascoutah, and the Lebanon Garden Club.

“Into the Streets” is part of the new student orientation program for incoming McKendree University students. It is coordinated by the Lyn Huxford Center for Community Service on campus.

“We hope that the students will build relationships though their service, and learn about the help they can provide to the community and opportunities for continued service,” said Jessica Trout, program coordinator.

For more information, contact Trout at 618-537-6901 or jntrout@mckendree.edu.

Special Olympics comes to Lindenwood

The Lindenwood University-Belleville athletic department teamed up with the Special Olympics to play host to Special Olympic Sports Days from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26.

“We are excited to partner with the Special Olympics,” said Interim Director of Athletics Annie Reis. “Working with such a great organization will provide our student-athletes with a way to truly live the NAIA Champions of Character core values in their everyday lives.”

Justin Dunning, who is the Area 12 Director for the Special Olympics, views Lindenwood-Belleville and the Special Olympics partnership as a great match.

“In Illinois alone, more than 22,000 athletes compete in 19 Olympic-style sports and over 180 competitions each year,” Dunning said. “Special Olympics Illinois provides athletes with the opportunity to develop their own pride and self-esteem, build new friendships, and have the thrill of participating in their sport.”

SWIC students awarded manufacturing scholarships

Two Southwestern Illinois College students are among four St. Louis-area students who have been awarded a combined total of $12,000 in scholarships this year through the St. Louis Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association.

One of the recipients is Matthew Budnicki of Collinsville, who is studying precision machining technology at SWIC. Another recipient from the metro-east is Devon Bledsoe of Worden, who is also enrolled in the precision machining technology program at the Granite City Campus.

The St. Louis Chapter awards scholarships to students who are furthering their education to pursue a career in the tooling and machining industry. Since its inception in 2007, the chapter’s scholarship program has awarded more than $65,700 in scholarships to students throughout the St. Louis region.

This story was originally published August 2, 2016 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Your student has better learning opportunities thanks to grant."